My LINKcat AccountThe Winter Reading Program ended on March 1st and the last day for spending Dragon Dollars in our store was March 9th, so this year’s Winter Reading Program is truly and finally at the end. And as I promised (or would that be threatened) I shall now regale you with the amazing numbers this year’s participants have racked up. 64 of our youngest readers, the Chipmunks, read an astonishing 9,173 books. That’s over 143 books per child. The 42 chapter book readers, also known as “the Racoons”, read 1,950 books which is over 46 books per reader. The 15 teen readers, a.k.a. “the Porcupines” read 495 books or 33 books each. Our 59 adult readers, the Moose, read 1,186 books which works out to about 20 books each. 19 “Flying Squirrels”, also know and the library staff read 699 books which is almost 37 books apiece (no wonder my eyes are tired!). All those reading program participants earned 1,200 Dragon Dollars which they very generously donated to these following charities: Blessings in a Backpack, Norski Nibbles, Mission Nutrition, the Dane County Humane Society, and the library’s endowment fund. I shall be writing my personal checks to each of those charities for the amount of Dragon Dollars donated in the not-too-distant future. In the meantime, a friendly reminder that the Summer Reading Program kicks off on June 10th. Don’t lose your reading momentum by taking a break. Below are some of the new titles which recently arrived at the library. Check them out. Keep reading. Enjoy!
New Non-Fiction
“Before Elvis: The Africa American Musicians Who Made the King” by Preston Lauterbach. This exploration of the Black musicians who shaped Elvis Presley's music focuses on four overlooked artists while examining their influence, legacies and the systemic injustices that kept them in poverty as others profited from their work.
“The Neat Method Organizing Recipe Book: 70 Simple Projects to Take Your Home from Chaos to Composed” by Ashley Murphy & Marissa Hagmeyer. In this unique organizing book, readers are guided through simple projects for every room in the house, featuring clear “ingredient” lists and step-by-step directions for creating stylish solutions like a drop zone for gear, a color-coded bathroom closet, and specialized drawers, transforming homes into spaces of beauty, calm, and simplicity.
“Warrior to Civilian: The Field Manual for the Hero’s Journey” by Robert Saver & Alex Gendzier. A detailed resource for veterans transitioning to civilian life, addressing practical matters like job hunting and family reintegration, alongside deeper issues such as loss and purpose. Authored by veterans Rob Sarver and Alex Gendzier, it incorporates personal stories and expert insights, emphasizing healing and resilience.
“The Sun Won’t Come Out Tomorrow: The Dark History of American Orphanhood” by Kristen Martin. Critiques the myth of American orphanhood by exploring its historical realities, including the oppressive nature of early orphanages, systemic classism and racism, and her personal experiences, urging a reevaluation of society’s approach to child welfare and community care.
“Long Live: The Definitive Guide to the Folklore and Fandom of Taylor Swift” by Nicole Pomarico. Featuring illustrations and photos throughout and covering the Taylor Swift multiverse from all angles with a journey through fandom history, exclusive interviews, and behind-the-scenes detail on her career across all eras—including The Tortured Poets Department—this is the ultimate fan guide for Swifties.
New Fiction
“The Buffalo Hunter” by Stephen Graham Jones. In 1912, a Lutheran pastor documents the chilling confessions of Good Stab, a Blackfeet vampire seeking justice for a historical massacre, intertwining themes of revenge, survival, and haunting truths on the Blackfeet reservation.
“Early Thirties” by Josh Duboff. Two thirtysomething best friends’ set out on a messy search for connection and love in New York.
“Hot Air” by Marcy Dermansky. Single mother Joannie finds herself caught in a whirlwind of desire and confusion when her billionaire childhood crush crash-lands into her life, leading to a chaotic and hilarious exploration of love, lust and the complexities of modern life.
“Killer Potential” by Hannah Deitch. A new novel follows two unlikely fugitives—an SAT tutor who finds her rich employers brutally murdered and the bound woman she frees from their closet—as they go from bystanders to suspects to fugitives.
“Tilt” by Emma Pattee. Nine months pregnant and stranded in a chaotic, earthquake-ravaged Portland, Annie journeys home on foot, navigating human desperation and kindness while reflecting on her struggling marriage, stalled career, and hopes for a fresh start with her baby.
“Twist” by Colum McCann. Irish journalist Anthony Fennell investigates the human cost of fiber-optic cable repair on Africa’s west coast, joining a mysterious engineer and free diver as their mission at sea reveals personal and global fractures, forcing them to confront love, loss, and the fragile connections that bind the world together.
“Walk Softly on This Heart of Mine” by Callie Collins. In 1970s Austin, Texas, a struggling honkytonk bar on the city's outskirts is revived by a blues band, intertwining the lives of a guitarist chasing fame, a conflicted bar owner, and a boy grappling with identity, leading to a community’s turbulent transformation.
“33 Place Brugmann” by Alice Austen. On the eve of Nazi occupation, the residents of 33 Place Brugmann in Brussels are forced to choose between submission or risking everything to protect one another in the face of betrayal, love and courage.